Recognizing The Harm Teeth Grinding Can Cause For Your Smile

If you are waking up with a sore jaw, and pain in your face and neck, make sure you let your dentist know. While these discomforts may seem unrelated to oral care, they are symptoms of bruxism, a habit of teeth grinding that can cause a person to grind or clench their teeth throughout the night. When this problem is not being managed, it can become progressively more serious over time. In addition to causing you to feel chronic pain, you can wind up with teeth that are worn, chipped, or cracked. At our Prairie Village, KS dental office, we are prepared to help you spare your teeth damage by providing you with a custom oral appliance. We can also determine what kind of restorative dental work your teeth might need if you have suffered damage to your enamel.

Teeth Grinding At Night Can Become A Big Problem

When a person first experiences issues with bruxism, they can struggle with pain or sensitivity in their face, teeth, and jaw. If the problem is not addressed, it can steadily grow more serious. You can wind up changing the shape of certain teeth because you continue to put pressure on them at night. Eventually, you may even experience problems with teeth that become chipped or cracked! Because bruxism is often linked to TMJ disorder, your experience with grinding can also involve persistent headaches, limited jaw movement, and other frustrating symptoms.

Wearing An Appliance To Protect Your Teeth While You Sleep

By crafting a custom oral appliance for you, your dentist can provide you with a way to protect your smile while you are sleeping. A custom appliance can feel comfortable, and stay in place with less difficulty. As you rest through the night, its presence can keep your teeth apart so you are not able to grind or clench. This can put an end to your risk for dental damage, and also alleviate the discomfort you have endured because of bruxism.

Have You Already Experienced Dental Damage? We Can Help!

If you wait too long to address bruxism, you may experience permanent damage that affects the quality of your smile, and may even negatively impact your oral health. After examining teeth to see how serious your dental trauma might be, we can recommend the right restorative services for you. Dental crowns can restore any teeth that have become damaged to the point that you require functional support. For relatively minor trauma, cosmetic dental work can be effective at giving you back confidence in your smile.

Talk To Dr. Browne About Your Troubles With Teeth Grinding!

At our Prairie Village, KS dental practice, Dr. Browne is ready to meet with patients who struggle with bruxism. In addition to providing an appliance to protect you from future harm, we can arrange any dental services that might be necessary to restore the condition of your teeth! To learn more, or to set up a visit with Dr. Browne, contact our office today at (913) 901-8585.